Apparatus for forming box corners by creasing



May 20 1924. 11,494,921

- B. A. LANGE APPARATUS FOR FORMING Box commas BY CREASING Filed Nov. 2, 1921 2 Sheets-Shael 29 '46 4? 2a g i Inventor.- lie/vazwa. K y fltt y.

May 20 1924. 1,494,921'

B. A: LANG; Pumps 'Fon mamas a'ox commas av'pnuasme I Filed Nov. 2. 1921 9 Sheen's-sheet 2 j H '-1:ig. 6. 19 (IQ: 4 20 Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT ori ice.

BERTHO-LD A. LANGE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING BOX CORNER-S BY CBEASI ENG.

Application filed November 2, 1921. I Serial No. 512,341. h

Improvements in Apparatus for Forming Bo); Corners by Creasing, of which the followlng is a specification.

This invention is an apparatus for practicing the method of creasing pasteboard and similar materials for forming box corners of the said material described in the patent of the same inventor 1,362,330, dated December 14, 1920.

The object of this invention is to provide I a cheap and speedy means of creasing the pasteboard, fibreboard, strawboard, or the like, of which boxes are made at certain lines, so that the corners of the box can be quickly and efliciently formed from the said creases. To do this, dies are brought together. by suitable means, the material being engaged between the said dies in such manner as to form the creases in the said material. One advantage of this invention is that it is thereby possible to form any number of such creases at the same time and by an operation in which the material is fed continuously. It is possible, also, with minor changes in the shape of the dies, to form creases of any desired cross-section. It will be understood that the term corners, as herein used, applies to such parts whether in a vertical .or horizontal planei. e. whether along what are usually called edges or what are. usually called corners. This apparatus is so constructed as to crease the material with less straining than has been customary or with no straining at all.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an apparatus embodying-the invention. Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus illustrating a particular die assembly. Figure 3 is an elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a detail of the box corner formed by the said dies. Figure 5 illustrates a set of dies of modified form. Figure 6 illustrates the reversal in construction of the dies shown in Figure 5 Figure 7 is an endelevation showing a further modification of the dies. Figure 8 is a side elevation of the same, and

Figure 9 is a perspective detail of the clip shown in Figures 7 and 8.

' This invention resides principally i'nthe dies adapted for the purpose stated, but in Figure 1 there is illustrated the application of one set of dies in a machine adapted to operate the same.

In the said machine, the standards 1 support the table 2 to which are fastened pins 3. A die-operating block 5, having holes 6 and 7 to receive the said pins, isreciprocated vertically upon the latter by means of a crank shaft 8 andthe connecting rods 15 and 16 operated from the eccentrics 18. The crank shaft is journaled in bearing supported by one of the standards 1 and,

also, in bearings 10 and 11 depending from hanger 12, the latter being fastened to the underside of table 2. The connecting rods 15 and 16 are pivotally attached to block 5 by pins 19 and the length of the'connect-v ing rods determine the extent to which the block may be reciprocated. To provide for operating the apparatus by hand, the crank shaft 8 has mounted thereon a wheel- 14 equipped with a handle '13. Block 5 is grooved vertically near each end and on opposite sides, the groovesnear one end being indicated at 20 and 21 provide guideways for the tongues24 and 25 on the arms 28 and 29 of a U-shaped frame mounted for sliding movement at one end of the block 5 and grooves 22 and 23 provide guidewavs for the tongues 26 and 27 on the arms 30 and 31 of a similar frame mounted for sliding movement at the opposite end of block 5. Stop pins 32 and 34, carried by block 5, and working in slots 36and 37 in the arms of the frames. limit the movement of the latter; the said frames being in their lowermost positions when the pins are at the upper ends of the slotsas shown inFig- I ure 1.

The material is creased between opposing v dies 40, 41 and 42. Die 40 is stationary with table 2 and presents sharp corners 43 on opposite sides of a centrally disposed ver tical rib 55.

rods have their opposite ends supported in the U-shaped I frames previously described.

Each die 41 and 42 has, a bellcrank-like arm. 48 and each U-shaped frame carries springs 44 and 45 suitably pocketed therein for engaging the extended ends of the said arms 48, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. These Dies 41 and 42 are mounted on pivot rods 46 and 47. respectively, which springs are tensioned to normally hold the said arms slightly elevated at their outer edges thereby causing the dies 41 and 42 to assume a tilted position, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

In operation, the material 75 to be creased is placed over die 40 and crankshaft 8 oper' ated to cause the descent of the die-operating block 5. Since the U-shaped frames, by reason of the slots 36 and 37, hang lower than the block 5, it will be apparent that when the dies 41 and 42 carried by the frames first contact with the material, they will be in a tilted position. Moreover, when the dies 41 and 42 rest on the material 75 further downward movement of the frames is prevented. The block 5, however, continues to descend, pins 32 and 34 being free to move down in slots 36 and 37, and consequently, forces down the upraised ends of arms 48 against the action of springs 44 and 45, simultaneously forcing the extreme opposite ends of dies 41 and 42 to move inwardly along material 75, at an angle oblique to the plane of the latter, thereby gathering the same into a bend of surplus material 49 fitting more or less loosely over and around the tongue or rib 55, whereupon with the completion of the descent of block 5 and the completion of the movement of dies 41 and 42 from the dotted-line position to the full-line position in Figure 2. the creasing of the material 75 between rib and the two dies 41 and 42 is effected. The product of this creasing is depicted in Figure 4. As soon as the pressure on springs 44 and 45, caused by the descent of block 5, is released, the dies41 and 42 are returned to the dotted line positions. If balanced in a certain way, they will return without spring pressure but not so quickly. For successive creasing operations, the material 75 may be fed or pushed, or pulled forward by means not shown in the drawings.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification in the arrangement and structure of the dies, in which die 69' corresponds with die 40 of Figures 1, 2, and 3, but varies from the latter in that cups 71 and 72 are provided, being separated by the central rib 81 having the rounded upper edge55.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, the

arrangement and action of the parts as compared with the foregoing is somewhat re versed, the dies 74 corresponding with dies 41 and 42 being stationary relative to the die 73 corresponding with dies 40 and 69 of Figures 2 and 5. In this arrangement die 73 descends for action in conjunction with dies 74, which are mounted on pivots 79 at the outer ends of the bellcrank arm 78 and yieldably held to-the dotted line position by the pressure of springs 76 borne by plate 77. The pressure of the descending die 73 on the material 75, which will be placed in contact with dies 74, causes the latter to be turned on their pivots so that they assume the full-line posi tions and co-act with the rib 80 in very much the same way as the dies 41 and 42 in Figure 5 do with rib 81, and in very much the same way as the dies 41 and 42 in Figure 2 eo-act with rib As soon as the pressure on springs 76 is released the dies 74 return to the positions indicated by the dotted lines.

In Figures 7 to 9 is illustrated a further variation in the structure disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and The die-operating block 63, corresponding to block 5 of Figure 1, is provided with the usual sliding frames at each end and adapted to be reciprocated in the manner described by means'of pins 19 and connecting rods 15. Instead of a pin-andslot arrangement, stop-plate 83 is employed for limiting the sliding movement of the frames with respect to the block 63. Studs 84 are mounted in each frame and the plate 83, which extends across the top of block 63, is suitably fastened thereto, as shown. Associated with each of the Urshaped frames is a single spring 89 tensioned to normally extend an upthrust against the underside of block 63 and pivotally supported from the said frame, by means of pivots 46 and 47, are the dies 41 and 42 minus the extension at the ends of the arms 48 such as are present inconstruction of Figures 1, 2, and 3. In respect to operation, the action of block 63 against the dies 41 and 42 is substantially the same as described in connection with the pre ceding figures, but in the present instance a special clip 82 is carried by the block 63 for automatically resetting dies 41 and 42 as the block ascends. The structure of this clip is illustrated in Figure 9 and the same is attached to the underside of block 63, as shown in Figure 8, by fastening means 86 engaged with the block thru holes 85 in the clip. The edges 88 of the clip embrace the bellcrank arms 48 of dies 41 and 42 and operate to draw the arms upwardly and inwardly as the block 63 ascends, thereby causing the dies 41 and 42 to be automatically moved from the dotted line positions to the fullline position indicated in Figure 7. The holes or slots for the pivots 46 and 47 are preferably elliptical to prevent bending and the clip 82 may extend the entire length of hell.- crank arms 48 or only part thereof.

By the use of this particular apparatus in box-forming operations and on account of the inclined motion of the dies, more material is gathered and enters into the construction of the creases or corners. This results instronger corners of the boxes, which is an important feature in shipping because of the great strain to which such articles are subjected in transit, especially in long distances.

The creases or corners are thus strengthened, and more tensile strength retained therein, because this invention increases the ibility and pliability of the material in the creases or corners while, at the same time, there is a decrease of the depth of the creasing and of the separation of plies in the material, and of strain on the stock at the bend and adjacent to the bend, and of breakage of fiber in the stock.

Having thus described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts as may be made within the scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for forming box corners by creasing, including opposed dies adapted for relative movement, one towards the other,

for creasing material therebetween, one of said dies consisting of pivoted bell crank members normally disposed at an inclination to the plane of the material and operable upon the relative inward movement of the dies to draw the material into a bend of surplus material preparatory to the final creasing of the material.

2. An apparatus for forming box corners by creasing, including opposed dies adapted for relative movement, one towards the other for creasing material therebetween, one of said dies consisting of pivoted bell crank members normally disposed at an inclination to the plane of the material, and means normally retaining the said bell crank members at such inclination, said means being yieldahle to permit the said bell crank members to be turned on their pivots under pressure of the relative inward movement of the said dies for drawing the material into a bend of surplus material preparatory to the final creasing of the material.

An apparatus for forming box corners by creasing, including opposed dies adapted for relative movement, one toward the other, for creasing material therebetween, one of said dies comprising pivoted bell crank members normally disposed to operate at an inclination to the plane of the material and adapted to be gradually turned on their respective pivots under pressure of the approaching dies, for gathering material into a bend of surplus material preparatory to the final creasing of the material, and means for yieldably holding the said bell crank members temporarily in their inclined positions whereby they will. engage the material while positioned at an inclination to the plane thereof.

4. An apparatus for forming box corners by creasing, including a die-operating member adapted to be vertically reoiprooated, a frame slidably mounted at each end of the member, means for limiting the sliding movement of the said frame relative to the said member, a die consisting of a pair of material-engaging bell cranks pivotally supported between the said frames, and yieldable means holding said bell cranks tilted so as to have their material-engaging portions normally inclined to the plane of the material and their other portions disposed in the path of the said die-operating member whereby to be actuated upon the descent of the said die-operating member.

5. Anapparatus for forming box corners by creasing, including a table, a die station ary therewith, a die-operating member mounted for vertical reciprocation above the said stationary die, a frame mounted at opposite ends of the die-operating member and having limited sliding movement relative thereto, said frames being in their lowermost positions when the said die-operating member is at the upper extreme of its travel, a die supported between the said frames and including a pair of pivoted bell cranks adapted to co-act with the said stationary die, and means normally holding the said bell cranks tilted at' an inclination to the plane of the material to be creased, said bell cranks being operated upon the descent of the said die-operating member to close upon the said stationary die for creasing the material.

6. An apparatus forforming box corners by creasing. including relatively stationary and movable dies for creasing material therebetween, the said movable dies comprising pivoted bell cranks adapted to co-act with the said stationary die, and means for operating the said bell cranks including diecarrying frames'from which the said bell cranks are pivotally supported at an inclination to the plane of the material, and a dieoperating member supporting the. said frames and being relatively slidable thereto for movement into and out of operating engagement with the said bell cranks.

7. An apparatus for forming box corners by creasing, including a table, a die stationary therewith. a pair of die-carrying frames,

a die comprising bell crank members pivot ally supported by the said frames for coaction with the said stationary die, means carried by the said frames for normallv holding the said bell cranks partly rotated 011 their respective pivots whereby they will be caused, when actuated, to travel in a path at an angle oblique to the plane of the material, and a die-operating member carrying the said frames and being reciprocable therein for actuating said bell cranks.

8. An apparatus for forming box corners by creasing, including a table, a die station ary therewith, a pair of die-carrying frames. a die comprising bell crank members pivot ally supported by the said frames for co action with the said stationary die, means carried by the said frames for normally &

v for actuating the said die-operating member to operate the said bell cranks subsequently to the initial engagement of the latter with 10 the material to be creased.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my BEBTHOLD A. QLANGE.

signature. 

